How to Make a Book of Shadows
The Book of Shadows, or BOS, is used to store information you'll need in your magical tradition, whatever it may be. Many Pagans feel a BOS should be handwritten, but as technology progresses, some use their computer to store information as well. Don't let anyone tell you there's only one way to make your BOS, because you should use what works best for you.
Bear in mind that a BOS is considered a sacred tool, which means it is an item of power that should be consecrated with all of your other magical tools. In many traditions, it is believed you should copy spells and rituals into your BOS by hand; this not only transfers energy to the writer, but it also helps you to memorize the contents. Make sure you write legibly enough that you’ll be able to read your notes during a ritual.
Organizing Your BOS
To make your Book of Shadows, begin with a blank notebook. A popular method is to use a three-ring binder so items can be added and rearranged as needed. If you use this style of BOS, you can use sheet protectors as well, which is great for preventing candle wax and other ritual drippings from getting on the pages. Whatever you select, your title page should include your name. Make it fancy or simple, depending on your preference, but remember that the BOS is a magical object and should be treated accordingly. Many witches simply write, “The Book of Shadows of [your name]” on the front page.
What format should you use? Some witches are known to create elaborate Books of Shadows in secret, magical alphabets. Unless you’re fluent enough in one of these systems that you can read it without having to check notes or a chart, stick with your native language. While a spell looks beautiful written out in flowing Elvish script or Klingon lettering, the fact is that it’s just hard to read unless you’re an Elf or a Klingon.
The biggest dilemma with any Book of Shadows is how to keep it organized. You can use tabbed dividers, create an index at the back, or if you’re really super-organized, a table of contents in the front. As you study and learn more, you’ll have more information to include, which is why the three-ring binder is such a practical idea. Some people choose instead to use a simple bound notebook, and just add to the back of it as they discover new items.
If you find a rite, spell or piece of information somewhere else, be sure to note down the source. It will help you keep things straight in the future, and you'll start to recognize patterns in authors' works. You may also want to add a section that includes books you've read, as well as what you thought of them. This way, when you get a chance to share information with others, you'll remember what you've read.
Keep in mind that as our technology is constantly changing, the way we use it does too. There are plenty of people who keep their BOS completely digitally on a flash drive, their laptop, or even stored virtually to be accessed by their favorite mobile device. A BOS pulled up on a smartphone is no less valid than one copied by hand in ink onto parchment.
You may want to use one notebook for information copied from books or downloaded off the Internet, and another for original creations. Regardless, find the method that works best for you, and take good care of your Book of Shadows. After all, it’s a sacred object and should be treated accordingly.
What to Include in Your Book of Shadows
When it comes to the contents of your personal BOS, there are a few sections that are nearly universally included.
- Laws of Your Coven or Tradition: Believe it or not, magic has rules. While they may vary from group to group, it’s a really good idea to keep them at the front of your BOS as a reminder of what constitutes acceptable behavior and what doesn’t. If you’re part of an eclectic tradition that doesn’t have written rules, or if you’re a solitary witch, this is a good place to write down what you think are acceptable rules of magic. After all, if you don’t set yourself some guidelines, how will you know when you’ve crossed over them? This may include a variation on the Wiccan Rede, or some similar concept.
- A Dedication: If you’ve been initiated into a coven, you may want to include a copy of your initiation ceremony here. However, many Wiccans dedicate themselves to a God or Goddess long before they become part of a coven. This is a good place to write out who you are dedicating yourself to, and why. This can be a lengthy essay, or it can be as simple as saying, “I, Willow, dedicate myself to the Goddess today, June 21, 2007.”
- Gods and Goddesses: Depending on what pantheon or tradition you follow, you may have a single God and Goddess, or a number of them. Your BOS is a good place to keep legends and myths and even artwork concerning your Deity. If your practice is an eclectic blend of different spiritual paths, it’s a good idea to include that here.
- Correspondence Tables: When it comes to spellcasting, correspondence tables are some of your most important tools. Phases of the moon, herbs, stones and crystals, colors – all have different meanings and purposes. Keeping a chart of some sort in your BOS guarantees that this information will be at the ready when you really need it. If you have access to a good almanac, it’s not a bad idea to record a years’ worth of moon phases by date in your BOS. Also, put together a section in your BOS for herbs and their uses. Ask any experienced Pagan or Wiccan about a specific herb, and chances are good that they’ll expound on not only the magical uses of the plant but also the healing properties and history of use. Herbalism is often considered the core of spellcasting because plants are an ingredient that people have used for literally thousands of years. Remember, many herbs should not be ingested, so it’s important to research thoroughly before you take anything internally.
- Sabbats, Esbats, and Other Rituals: The Wheel of the Year includes eight holidays for most Wiccans and Pagans, although some traditions do not celebrate all of them. Your BOS can include rituals for each of the Sabbats. For example, for Samhain, you may wish to create a rite that honors your ancestors and celebrates the end of the harvest, while for Yule you may want to write down a celebration of the Winter Solstice. A Sabbat celebration can be as simple or complex as you wish. If you’ll be celebrating each full moon, you’ll want to include an Esbat rite in your BOS. You can use the same one each month, or create several different ones tailored to the time of year. You may also wish to include sections on how to cast a circle and Drawing Down the Moon, a rite that celebrates the invoking of the Goddess at the time of the full moon. If you’ll be doing any rites for healing, prosperity, protection, or other purposes, be sure to include them here.
- Divination: If you’re learning about Tarot, scrying, astrology, or any other form of divination, keep information in here. When you experiment with new methods of divination, keep a record of what you do and the results you see in your Book of Shadows.
- Sacred Texts: While it’s fun to have a bunch of new shiny books on Wicca and Paganism to read, sometimes it’s just as nice to have information that’s a little more established. If there is a certain text that appeals to you, such as The Charge of the Goddess, an old prayer in an archaic language, or a particular chant that moves you, include it in your Book of Shadows.
- Magical Recipes: There’s a lot to be said for “kitchen witchery,” because for many people, the kitchen is the center of hearth and home. As you collect recipes for oils, incense, or herb blends, keep them in your BOS. You may even want to include a section of food recipes for Sabbat celebrations.
- Spell Crafting: Some people prefer to keep their spells in a separate book called a grimoire, but you can also keep them in your Book of Shadows. It’s easier to keep spells organized if you divide them up by purpose: prosperity, protection, healing, etc. With each spell you include, particularly if you write your own rather than using someone else's ideas, make sure you also leave room to include information on when the working was performed and what the outcome was.
The Digital BOS
We're all on the go pretty much constantly, and if you're someone who prefers to have your BOS immediately accessible and editable at any time, you might want to consider a digital BOS. If you choose to go this route, there are a number of different apps you can use that will make the organization easier. If you've got access to a tablet, laptop, or phone, you can absolutely make a digital Book of Shadows.
Use apps like Microsoft's OneNote or Google Drive to organize and create simple text documents and folders; you can even share documents with friends and coven members. If you want to make your BOS a bit more like a diary or journal, check out apps like Diaro. If you're graphically inclined and artsy, Publisher works well too.
Do you want to share your BOS with others? Consider putting together a Pinterest board with all of your favorite content.
https://www.learnreligions.com/make-a-book-of-shadows-2562826
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How to Create Your Book of Shadows
A Book of Shadows is your personal journal of your magical journey. In it, you will write down any notes and insights you receive from other Witches, from the Universe, from your dreams, from books and websites and any other source you find them. You will write down your spells before you cast them and you will make notes about the casting and about your results. You will keep any tables of correspondences, recipes, sketches of magical plants, symbols and just about anything that comes to you that relates in any way to your magical practice.
It is wise for all magical practitioners of any tradition to have a Book Of Shadows as it provides a valuable resource you will return to time and again when your memory fails, not to mention the incredibly deep insight your periodic review of your Book of Shadows will provide into your own spiritual evolution.
Required Tools:
(Note: Several of the links in this section are Amazon Associate links that will track your activity after you click them. I will receive, and greatly appreciate, a small portion of any purchase you make through these links.)
To create your book of shadows you will need a book. You can purchase a blank journal, or a specialized Book of Shadows online or in many specialty shops. However, do not over-complicate this project. Having a Book of Shadows is more important than the form the Book comes in. A 3-Ring binder with loose-leaf paper, or even a spiral notebook or a composition book is suitable to get you started simply for a very low cost. You can always copy your notes into a fancier book later if you can’t acquire one now.
Personally, I like a 3-Ring binder because then I can add notes and recipes I’ve received from other people or printed from the internet. When I go to public rituals, I often receive typed notes from the ritual leaders. If I like the ritual, I want to stick it in my book of shadows. Also, sometimes I’m out and about or don’t have access to my binder. I can jot down notes on any 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper to add to my Book of Shadows later, I can even type it. A 3-ring binder makes it easy (assuming you also have access to a 3-hole punch). AND I can use dividers to make sections. AND it lays flat when it’s open, making it easier to follow a recipe. OR I can just take the pages I need out and put them back in again later. AND, My mom made me a nifty embroidered fabric cover for my binder that makes it look and feel like a “real” Book of Shadows (Check out http://makezine.com/craft/how-to_sew_a_simple_fabric_boo/ for directions to do this yourself. You can also make a cover out of paper or get a binder with a clear sleeve on the outside, then you can paint, draw or print out a cover and slide it right into your clear sleeve.
You will also need a pen. Pencil marks wear off over time so a pen is best. Some folks like to have a special pen for their Book of Shadows. A refillable fountain pen is nice. But again, if it’s too complicated, just get any old pen and go for it. Do not let your lack of a really cool pen interfere with the creation of your Book of Shadows!
You will also need whatever tools you generally use to cleanse and consecrate your magical tools
Directions:
1. Obtain and Organize Your Book
Remember to leave the first page blank.
Consider how you want to organize your book. Although there are other methods, some good possibilities are the Table of Contents or Tab style and the Index Style. How you wish to organize your book will give you an idea of what sort of book you wish to obtain.
Table of Contents Organization involves dividing your book into sections and having a Table of Contents somewhere in the book, usually near the beginning or end, that lists the starting page number of each section. Alternatively, the sections can be indicated by tabs.
If you are using a 3-ring binder, you can use tabbed inserts to mark each section. If you are using a blank book, spiral notebook or composition book, you may wish to number your pages and create a Table of Contents or you can use colored post-it tabs to mark each section in your book. If you create a Table of Contents, make sure you do it on the second page, not the first. Leave the first page blank. Do not try to populate these sections at this time or you may get bogged down. Just create your sections and mark them out and move on to the next task for now. When you are ready to start writing, flip to that section and go for it.
The following sections are suggested as possibilities in no particular order, but you may add or omit whichever sections you wish as best suits your personal practice and do not feel that you have to stick to this order.
- Rules to Live By
Many practitioners follow certain laws and it’s a good idea to have them right up front where you can meditate on them, absorb them, explore them and refer to them quickly and easily. So here is where you keep your copy of The Wiccan Rede, The Charge of the Goddess, The Delphic Maxims, The Seven Hermetic Principles or whatever it is that guides you. - Holy Days and Rites of Passage
In this section, you will record the dates and special significance of any holy days you celebrate and any rites of passage you experience, either as the recipient of the rite or the officiant of the rite. These may include the traditional Western Sabbats as well as any monthly observances you participate in and any special personal days, such as birthday celebrations, initiations, handfasting and marriage rites, adulthood rites, naming ceremonies and whatever else comes up in your life and personal practice. Write notes about the significance of each event, the rituals tied to each event, including traditional foods, decorations and gift-giving practices as well as special ceremonies and journal each individual event you celebrate. If you celebrate these events with your family, this will make your Book of Shadows a very special heirloom to pass down through the generations. - Symbols and Correspondences
In this section, you will keep any tables of correspondence you collect or develop as well as symbols, runes, magical languages, sigils and whatever else that is symbolic in nature that you find useful during your magical journey. - Spells
In this section, you will write down each spell you perform before you perform it. Then you will journal about the actual spell after you have performed it and continue journaling about the results of the spell. Include your thoughts about what worked well and what felt weird and how you could have done it differently and how it can be improved. - 5. Recipes
Every holy day and rite of passage has food associated with it. Many witches also like to prepare special ritual wine or cakes consumed only as part of a magical ritual. If this is you, be sure to include a section for your recipes because it’s a long time between Samhain feasts and you’d hate to leave out an ingredient in your famous pumpkin soup. If you have a special chant you like to recite while stirring to imbue your feast with magic, be sure to include this (or a cross-reference to the appropriate section.) - 6. Crafts
Many witches enjoy crafting their own magical tools and candles as well as making household items like soap. If this is you, include this section with step-by-step instructions for each item as well as notes for their use, spells that you like to imbue into the item (you can cross-reference to the spell section) and herbs or essential oils you like to use to scent items for specific purposes, seasonal variations, etc. - 7. Chants, prayers and songs
There are many lovely chants we come across online, in books and at public rituals and some of us even write our own. Your Book of Shadows should have a section for these even if they can be found in the Holy Day ritual and spell sections. If you have a prayer you say at dawn, at bedtime or at mealtimes, be sure to include these as well. - Do not be afraid to “steal” someone else’s chant, prayer or song for your own personal use; that’s what they put them out there for, just make sure you write down the name of the author, if you can find it. If you were to publish your book of shadows in either print or digital format (blog, website, e-book, etc.), you will need to contact the author or publisher to ask permission to include it. Otherwise, it will have to be removed from the public version.
- 8. A Dream Journal
In this section, you will record any significant, especially vivid or recurring dreams that you experience. Include notes about what’s going on in your life when you have these dreams. - Some people like to keep a separate dream journal and this is fine too.
(Read Dream Journal and Begin Lucid Dreaming) - Journey or Meditation Journal
If you journey, engage in Astral Projection or practice meditation, keep a journal to record your experiences and impressions during these exercises. Be sure to include any music, fragrances or different methods you used so you can judge their effectiveness later. Some people like to keep a journey or meditation journal separate from their Book of Shadows and this is fine too. - Reading Journal
Keep track of whatever books or websites you use to gather information. Take notes in this journal section make sure you write down where the information came from in case you want to look it up again later. Often when I am reading a book (or a website) I will come across a “fact” or an anecdote that I would like to research further. This journal section is invaluable for me in those instances. (I love that my Kindle has a note-taking feature on it, but I do need to copy those notes into the paper journal as well.) Sometimes you come across a piece of information in a book or website that you’d like to chew on for awhile before you actually add it to your Book of Shadows. This is a good place to jot that down. - General Journal Section
It is nice to have an extra section at the end of your Book of Shadows to just journal in. Here you can work on that poem you don’t have quite right, or record that omen you saw that may or may not be an omen or expound on how gorgeous the sunset was or make a note to ask Judy where she bought the incense she used at the last esbat because wow, that was some potent stuff and of course you’ll want to write down the name of the vendor you discovered at the RenFest that carried the exact beads you’ve been looking for so you can order more from their website and you’ll want to write down the day you felt like you were in a fog all day so you can speculate on the reasoning for your fog later when you’re feeling more clearheaded.
Index Organization– Using index organization for your Book of Shadows may feel more organic and natural to you. If your Book of Shadows is a bound book, rather than a ring binder. To create an indexed book, you will reserve the first or last few pages of your book for your index and number your pages as you go. Whenever you write an entry in your Book, you’ll just write the main topic of your entry in your index with the page number. When you write another entry with the same main subject, you’ll just add that page to the existing entry in your index.
Ordered Chaos maybe you don’t want to worry too much about keeping your book organized and you know you’ll never number the pages. That’s fine. If you can find what you’re looking for, then that’s all you need. You may still wish to use ribbon bookmarks if you’re fancy, or colored post-it notes if you’re not, to mark important sections as your book fills up and gets more difficult to navigate, but it’s all up to you!
2. Decorate your Book
Unless you’ve purchased your book already decorated, you may wish to decorate it yourself. I had you create sections to make the book usable before I had you decorate it because I want you to be able to use it right away, even if it’s not technically “finished” yet (Your Book of Shadows will never be finished). There is nothing more discouraging than the feeling that you have to do a bunch of work before you get started. Now you may decorate it if you wish, but you don’t have to. You can paint or draw right on the book, or use scrapbooking supplies if that’s what you’re into.
Unless you’ve purchased your book already decorated, you may wish to decorate it yourself. I had you create sections to make the book usable before I had you decorate it because I want you to be able to use it right away, even if it’s not technically “finished” yet (Your Book of Shadows will never be finished). There is nothing more discouraging than the feeling that you have to do a bunch of work before you get started. Now you may decorate it if you wish, but you don’t have to. You can paint or draw right on the book, or use scrapbooking supplies if that’s what you’re into.
You can learn to create a nifty fabric book cover at http://makezine.com/craft/how-to_sew_a_simple_fabric_boo/
Or you can make the good old fashioned paper book cover (you don’t have to use a bag if you have craft paper or wrapping paper you’d rather use) http://specialchildren.about.com/od/schoolissues/ss/bookcover2.htm
If you are using a 3-ring binder with a clear sleeve cover, you can simply print off or draw or paint an image that is pleasing to you and slide it into the clear sleeve.
Many people also like to decorate the first page of every section. Feel free to do this as well. You can use scrapbooking tools or if you are an artist, use your own talents. I have also seen Books of Shadows that were illuminated throughout with sketches of herbs, postures, and just doodles and this is wonderful. The more /you/ you put into your Book, the more personal and magical it will become. Just don’t get caught up in the decoration and forget to write. Of course, if your an artist and prefer to journal in illustrated form, that’s fine too!
3. Cleanse and Consecrate Your Book
Cleanse your Book using your preferred method and then consecrate it, that is, declare its sacred purpose.
Cleanse your Book using your preferred method and then consecrate it, that is, declare its sacred purpose.
Once this is done, open up your book to the first page and write the following:
This is the magical Book of Shadows of {Your magical name} begun this day, {date}
You can elaborate on this if you like, but don’t feel you have to. Some folks have written some Book of Shadows blessing rhymes that you might like to use and there are some more elaborate blessing rituals out there. You can find many of these using the search terms “Book of Shadows Blessing” in your favorite search engine. Choose one that you like and that reflects your intentions and beliefs. Or don’t and keep it simple.
Now, hold the book out in front of you, preferably over a candle or burning incense (high enough that it won’t catch fire) and read aloud what you just wrote.
4. Write in Your Book of Shadows
Many people like to write a bit fancy in their Book of Shadows. Some artsy types use calligraphy, some like to write in a magical language or code. I always write in cursive in my Book of Shadows. It feels fancy to me and is apparently going to be a dead art in another generation. Go ahead and be fancy if you like, but don’t get caught up in it. If you find you’re spending more time re-writing the calligraphy that’s not perfect or looking up magical languages than actually writing in your book, ditch the fancy and go for practical. The most important thing is that you write. Or, if you’re called to do so, draw. You can also press flowers and herbs into your book and glue in pictures you find elsewhere, if they relate to your magick.
Write (Or draw, or just flip through and read bits of it or otherwise work on your Book) every day if you can. Keep your Book of Shadows next to your bed so that you can write down your dreams as soon as you wake up and so that it is within arms reach when you wake from a dead sleep with some brilliant insight you won’t even remember you had in the morning.
If you don’t write every day, at least write every time you do a spell and at every Holy Day.
Additional Comments:
When your Book of Shadows becomes overstuffed, you may wish to archive it and create a new one. I recommend you read through your old book completely first. This will provide useful insight into your magical evolution and will allow you to identify any information you want to make sure gets transferred to the new book.
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